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DC’s Absolute Universe has succeeded by leaning into new, dynamic versions of its characters and storylines, unencumbered by past continuity and invigorated by decades of characterization, while remaining modern, prescient, and now. This fall, the Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, and other titles will be attempting to take the next step by having an (Absolute) universe-spanning crossover event while still keeping to its core of being what an Absolute event would be, and not just a standard superhero affair.

“There’s going to be an Absolute event in [2026], but it’s not gonna work the way a typical superhero comics event does  — it’ll be a different shape, a different kind of story, one that’s purely additive and not disruptive to the stories elsewhere in the line,” says Conroy in Comics! The Magazine #1.

Snyder speaks to that idea of breaking most of what a Batman comic, or in this case, a superhero event comic, can be.

“But the thing I’m enjoying a lot about the success of the Absolute line is that it feels like it’s opening the aperture a little bit for the kinds of things that can happen in superhero comics at this time,” says Snyder. “And the truth is that superhero comics have always been really elastic and flexible. These characters are there for us to try and use to make ourselves brave in the face of the things we’re terrified of. And that means they have to change over time and go up against things that might be shocking. And there have to be new versions of them at times, and all of that stuff to keep them fresh.”

Conroy, who has been with DC since before ‘The New 52,’ sees the Absolute line and this fall’s as-yet-unnamed Absolute DC event as an educated risk – for himself, for DC, but also for fans, to try a new book.

“We don’t want to ask too much from people in terms of their financial commitment, and if we’re asking the audience to invest in a new character or new series, we want to know we’re making a really convincing argument for it, and be certain that they’ll love it when they see it.”

Need more? Here's our picks for the best DC Comics stories of all time, and here's a list of all the free DC comics you can look forward to as part of this year's Free Comic Book Day 2026 and Comics Giveaway Day 2026.